The Montgomery County Council's Transportation & Environment Committee will hold additional listening sessions on proposed BEPS regulations. The next sessions are:

• September 16, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, Council Office Building 7th floor conference room & streaming live: Financing and incentive programs featuring the Montgomery County Green Bank
• September 23, 1:30 - 4:30 pm, Council Office Building 7th floor conference room & streaming live: Faith-based community

More information will be posted on the Council website under "Committee Worksessions" as it becomes available.

Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) announced the opening of the annual application window for the Solar Canopy and Dual Use Technology Grant Program, which provides funding for the installation of solar power systems on parking garages and lots.

This grant program enables Marylanders to maximize the benefits of their parking areas, turning them into producers of electricity, while also often providing shelter from adverse weather. The agency anticipates Fiscal Year 2025 program funding of up to $4.8 million. 

The FY25 Solar Canopy and Dual Use Technology Grant Program, which is open now through Wednesday, October 23, 2024, provides grants to support the installation of solar photovoltaic systems on parking lots and parking garages. 

Businesses, public universities, nonprofit educational institutions, local governments and Maryland state agencies are eligible for the competitive, statewide program. 

Questions about the Solar Canopy and Dual Use Technology Program may be directed to Program Manager David Comis at David.Comis@Maryland.gov or 410-537-4064. 

Building re-tuning (BRT) is a systematic process to identify and correct building operational problems that can lead to inefficiencies, costly equipment failures, energy waste, and dissatisfied occupants.
When properly executed, re-tuning can prevent these and other costly mistakes, saving between five and 25 percent of all energy used in a building.

The Clean Energy Center’s Building Re-tuning course teaches building managers, operations and maintenance staff, retro-commissioning agents, and control vendors how to make small to large-size commercial buildings more efficient, while improving their bottom line, energy efficiency, and occupant comfort. The next course is being held virtually on September 26. Learn more and register.

Training rebates may apply. Check with your local utility provider for Building Operator Training incentives (e.g. via Pepco) that may cover up to 100% of your registration fee.

Now that you've benchmarked, earn ENERGY STAR Certification for your high-performing building. 

To qualify for the ENERGY STAR, a property must
achieve an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher
on EPA’s 1 – 100 scale, which compares a property’s energy performance to other, similar properties. According to 2023 benchmarking data, over 550 buildings in Montgomery County would be eligible for Certification. 

The deadline for submitting applications for 2024 ENERGY STAR certification for U.S. commercial buildings is Friday, December 13, 2024. For more information on applying, view "How to apply for the ENERGY STAR" or watch a recording of a recent webinar.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced nineteen State and local governments that will receive over $240 million to adopt and implement the latest energy efficient or innovative building codes. These improvements will help save residents and commercial building operators money on their utility bills.

Among the awardees is Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services which will develop, adopt, and implement County energy codes over the next three code cycles working toward a long-term target of 100% Net Zero Energy building energy codes by 2027. 

Check out DEP’s Green Job Portal for open positions in climate and sustainability jobs! This month's featured job:

• Montgomery County DEP Manager II (Zero Waste Strategies), Apply by September 23rd
  

Why Efficiency Matters: Unlocking Benefits Beyond Climate for All: Fossil fuel phase-out happens decades sooner when efficiency is maximized (RMI)

Sustainable Labs Program at University of Virginia: In Fiscal Year 2023 the program decreased CO₂e emissions and energy use by 22%, resulting in $930,000 of energy savings (DOE)

Clean energy jobs grew twice as fast as overall energy sector last year, DOE says: The energy workforce overall added over 250,000 jobs in 2023; 56 percent of which were in clean energy. (Daily Energy Insider)

To Convert or to Rebuild?: With less than one in six office buildings being good candidates for residential conversions, several obstacles stand in the way of most potential reuse properties. (Multi-Housing News)